Do Not Consent

There was a rustling in the trees and bushes, and several birds and small critters ran out of their hiding places. Moments later, Adam watched as his wife bounded out of the leaves into their clearing.

"Adam!" She gasped for breath like she always did when she was excited. 

He gripped her by both shoulders, smiling happily into her eyes. "Yes, Dear?"

"There was a snake, and we were talking, and I ate the fruit! Adam, it is so good! You need to try some!" Eve grabbed his arm and started dragging him through brushes.

Alarms started going off in Adam's head. He pulled her to a stop and held up both palms. "Wait. Did you say you ate the fruit? What fruit? Oh, Eve, do you mean THAT fruit?" Panic started surging within him. What had she done?

"Adam," She gave him an exasperated look. "You need to come with me." She started leading him through the trees again, but he didn't struggle this time. He was just so stunned.

They came to the center of the garden. There in the middle was the tree. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It's branches stretched toward the sky, and it stood higher then any other tree in the garden. It looked lush and green, bright and eager to provide it's tantalizing fruit. Oh, it looked so good, too. Ripe, bright, and practically dripping with intoxicating flavor.

Wait! What was he thinking?  What was he doing? Somehow he had moved from his safe spot at the edge of the garden, and was standing directly in the tree.

"Eat a piece." He turned to look at his wife, and then swung his gaze back to the fruit at hand. It did look good.

"It will make us wise like God. The snake said that that's why God didn't want us to eat it. If we do, we will become like God with knowledge of good and evil."

The look on her face was so convinced....but what had God said? God hadn't said that. God had said that when they ate the fruit from this tree, they would die. Adam reached out a gingerly held the fruit, marveling at how much he wanted to taste it, yet knowing he shouldn't. Yet Eve seemed convinced. But God had said not to eat it.

What should he do?

He  plucked the fruit from the branch, and sank his teeth into it's flesh.

Based on Genesis 3:6

In my last blog post we talked about Eve's part in this, and focused on how we need to "Have a Verse for That Temptation/Situation." Today we are going to focus on Adam, and how even though he knew what God had said, he still gave into the flesh.

Sometimes, instead of being a light for the people around us, we do the same things. We all have our reasons. So we are not left out of the fun. So we are not the only one taking a stand. Because we are afraid. Because we are fed up with life. Sometimes its all of the above and more.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Both Adam and Eve had the ability to say no, and stand for what was right. Both had the ability to be a light. Both had the ability to remember what God said, and turn to Him. We have the ability to choose God and not the world. We have the responsibility as Jesus-professing Christians to choose God.

I have experienced moments where I was under pressure and I just wanted to give into my flesh. When I did, I didn't feel any better. I felt like an imbecile, truthfully. After all my talk, only to fail now. What was I thinking? Instead of feeling better, I was banging my head against the table saying, "Why. Am. I. So. Stupid?" Have you been there?

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16

We need to walk by God, and God only. Not by what we want or by what other people say or pressure us to do.

I'll leave you with this,..

Actually, I think Proverbs said it best:

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent." Proverbs 1;10

V. Joy Palmer